Wow – the long silence on my blog is exactly what I tell clients not to do, and it’s officially over. You may know that old saying, “the cobblers children have no shoes.” In this case, the professional writer has had no posts, but you may be interested to know why.

Enjoying Portland’s fall colors!

Big changes, but just the beginning

In the last 4 months, I have moved my family and my business from Florida to the West coast – Portland, Oregon to be exact. We packed off our one-and-only, best-possible-daughter to college. And I’ve begun to get to know the vibrant green business community that exists in my new home city.

Yes, while you may think of Portland as the land of beer and coffee (both true!), it is also something of a “green Grand Central” in terms of green living, green business and green government policies. And it’s this latter fact that calls to me.

Climate change – the issue that “will-not-be-named”

In the 3 Presidential debates that (thankfully) just ended, not a single question was asked about climate change (CC). Yet 2016 is a year that, according to experts, will once again be the hottest on record. The 2016 hurricane season is not done, yet we’ve already seen hundreds of Haitians die and millions of Americans in the Southeast evacuate due to Hurricane Matthew.

Portlanders “get” that climate change is real, and they are doing something about it. I like being part of that.

Doing my small part – with you!

The disconnect between what needs to happen to address climate change and what is actually happening continues to amaze me. There is a speed and scale of action that needs to ramp up now, and the good news is, you can help!

Know that sustainability means profitability. The idea that sustainable choices always cost more than they return is hopelessly outdated. Most companies are too busy to know that, for example, (1) the price of solar panels has fallen 80% in the last 5 years or that (2) relatively small changes – like swapping out incandescent lights for LEDs that cost one-tenth of the old bulbs – can drop money to the bottom line immediately. The “clean trillion” is a term first coined by Ceres.org. It quantifies just how big the opportunities for green business are. You can do your part to stop climate change and profit quite nicely at the same time.

Tell your story of green success – or challenges. The lackof awareness around climate change – not to mention the misinformation out there – can be remedied by telling your real-life stories of adopting more sustainable business practices. The more stories, the better. Even not-so-successful attempts help other businesses to properly assess their opportunities. Not sure what to say? I can help!

Keep learning. New products and services that make it increasingly easy and cost-effective for businesses to “go green” launch every day. From “smart buildings” to new transportation options, the world around us is being “disrupted” (to use an overused word) on all sides. Staying abreast of all this is a challenge, but also an opportunity to find the green options that best suit your business.

Helping you bridge the gap – with content

So while I am enjoying fall colors again for the first time in 16 years, I am also looking forward to helping YOU share your green successes – and challenges – through web content, blog posts, or case studies. Whether your organization is conserving water or designing a LEED Platinum office building, it’s important to get the word out to your customers, suppliers and communities.

Portland is also “bridge city.”

This month, I celebrate 5 years with Great Green Content, helping companies share their stories of sustainable success. What green business story can I help YOU share?

Earlier this week I spoke at Eckerd College on the topic of “Starting a Green Business.” I was thrilled to be invited. As I head into my 5th year as a content writer for green businesses (and a certified green business myself!), I have far more to share with the students than before. And the truth is, I came away feeling wonderfully optimistic about the future of green business. Here’s why:

Eckerd College teaches students how to launch green businesses.

Green business is part of the curriculum. I give a big shout out to Eckerd College and Professor Laura Singleton for teaching the course. It’s an intensive class to help students learn about, articulate and actually pitch a green business plan within one month. I like the fact that the class has such a practical, actionable focus. Green business is not some airy-fairy, far-away dream. It’s here now and we need more people like these students jumping in to the pool.

There were no slackers in this crowd. Far from tapping away on their smartphones while I spoke, these students were engaged. I was bombarded with questions ranging from “How do you handle greenwashing?” to “Why do you think the government in Florida bans people from talking about climate change?” to “You say your hybrid car is a good thing, but what are we going to do about those toxic batteries?” These are thoughtful, informed questions that say good things about the students asking them.

These students GET climate change. They know that climate change is real, and they know that they will likely bear the brunt of it. Not one student asked, “But isn’t climate change a hoax?” Not one student asked, “But won’t addressing climate change destroy our economy?” It’s a given. These students give me hope.

Green business means big bucks. I shared with the class a recent article from The Guardian listing the 9 companies that currently make $1 billion a year or more with sustainable products. That’s “billion” with a “b.” Target is the tenth company that will join this ranking. While my green business is small, there will be a need for green businesses of every size and shape. That’s exciting for people looking for a place in a new, green economy.

My New Year’s gift to you. Interested in exploring your own green business ideas? After class, I emailed Professor Singleton a list of 10 sources of information on green business to share with her students. This list barely scratches the surface, but it’s a good place to start:

WeMeanBusinessCoalition.org – this came out of the Paris Climate Talks. Mike Bloomberg (of Bloomberg Business Week) is one of the business people who has gotten involved in the green economy in a big way.

Ceres.org – while this is a nonprofit, they work mostly with for profit-businesses to help them understand and adopt more sustainable business practices.

As I told the class, this is just the tip of the iceberg. Whether you are looking for ideas for a green business to start, a green job to train for, or a green company to work for there is plenty of opportunity. Be bold – don’t wait – you can do this!

I am a regular Starbucks customer. I go almost every day, in spite of the financial monster in my head who screams, “$3.70 for coffee??? You could retire earlier if you SAVED that money!” Which is true. Except that I can’t count on reaching retirement. So I have my “fancy” cuppa joe each morning before work because it makes me happy, in that moment, every day.

THIS morning when I arrived, the barista handed me a grande version of my usual drink – café mocha, non-fat, no whip, 2 pumps. With a hand-written note on it that said, “Just because we love you, Alison!” And then they told me it was on the house. On a Monday morning, that made my day, week and month.

Now I know that a company is not a person. (Really – Justice Roberts, it’s not.) But Starbucks is a company that I choose to emulate in my own little, one-person shop. Not around coffee (I’m no expert) but in the WAY they do business and the WAY they treat their customers.

What do I mean? Let me count the ways.

The baristas know me and I know them. I am thankful for their name tags because I am terrible with names initially, but once I remember I ALWAYS remember. And it’s cheerful to walk in and say, “Hi Ericka/Mitch/Brooklyn” to whoever happens to be across the counter.

They are unfailingly friendly and polite. I know that’s part of their job, but at my Starbucks, they do it really well. In this time where simple courtesy and respect seem to be in short supply, I appreciate the fact that they DON’T let it all hang out. I know they’re being nice to me, and I am nice to them back. I like nice.

Their support of education with programs like the full tuition reimbursement for Bachelor degrees through Arizona State shows their recognition, not only of the importance of education, but also of the fact that it’s something their employees want. So many companies trim back benefits every year. To see such an important one added is refreshing!

“Nice” can make for smart business

The main thing that I admire about Starbucks is that they’ve made me want to start my day with them. And that feeling of anticipation and happiness is something I want to create for my own clients. I want my interactions – whether in person, on the phone, over email or Skype – to be the best part of their day. Even if we’re talking about something relatively unimportant in the overall scheme of things, I want to make you feel like I’m happy to see you, that I’m glad I can help, and that you are in good hands.

That may seem odd, given that we live in the “paradise” of Tampa, Florida. You know – endless sunshine, white sandy beaches, palm trees. Portland has none of that.

But we had heard good things about Portland’s commitment to being a “green city“, so we decided to check it out.

Portland really IS green

Portland is routinely named the “greenest city in America.” In 2015, it’s #1 on Travel and Leisure’s list. What struck me was:

Lots of trees and parks. There’s no “concrete canyon” feel here. Portland has managed to keep a LOT of trees and parks in the heart of the city.

Portland has lots of trees in the city.

Great public transit. It’s easy to get around. The transit system – which includes the MAX light rail plus street cars and buses – is clean, cheap and frequent. It’s also growing, with a new line opening in September. When your house has a walk score of 0, being able to walk out the door for a block and (1) stop at a coffee shop or (2) hop on public transit is a miracle.

Signs of eco-consciousness everywhere. From the many bike riders (who can easily bring their bikes onto public transit), to the solar trash compacters on every block, to the ubiquitous recycling bins, it’s easy to be green in Portland.

That’s all anecdotal, of course, but the statistics and rankings back up my impression.

The Clean Edge guys are my “go-to” researchers for all things happening in “clean tech.” Earlier this month, they released their annual Clean Tech Leadership Index, rating all 50 states and the 50 largest metro areas on their “clean tech” activities.

According to Clean Edge, “OREGONretained its #3 rank for the third straight year, but enjoyed the highest score increase of any top 10 state, up to 72 points from 67 last year when it barely edged out Colorado. Oregon trails only California in the Technology category, with perennial strength in hybrid vehicles, electric vehicles, plug-in hybrids, charging infrastructure, and green buildings. ”

Clean Edge also says, “Portland places #3 for the third time in four years. The Rose City leads all metros in Clean Electricity & Carbon Management, thanks to strong hydroelectric power resources, low carbon emissions from large facilities, and a strong commitment to climate protection and reporting. Portland also ranks #3 in the Green Buildings category.”

Portlanders also know how to have fun

Lest you think Portlanders spend all their free time composting their food scraps, the city offers a great many “attractions,” including:

Craft Beer – There’s a “craft beer festival” in July, and more breweries than you can shake a stick at.

Coffee – I visited the biggest Starbucks I have ever seen, and also sipped coffee at Peet’s and Stumptown. There are dozens of other independent coffee houses.

Restaurants – Thai, Chinese, Morrocan, French, seafood, pizza, and “new American” were just some of the choices.

Books – Public libraries and Powell’s books make this a book lover’s haven.

Education – Portland State is minutes from the center of town.

Parks – There are over 10,000 acres of parks in the city. We spent time in Washington Park, which is 400 acres with 15 miles of trails.

Waterfront – Portland sits on the Willamette River, and the variety of bridges crossing over to Washington state was astounding.

Portland’s economy is growing

According to Google, Portland’s unemployment rate was 4.4% in April 2015. Like most parts of the country, job growth is stronger than it’s been in years. That strength comes from:

Silicon Forest – which houses everything from IBM and HP to Microsoft and Intel. It’s an impressive concentration of tech companies employing upwards of 60,000 people.

Portland green businesses – which tend to be smaller, but are impactful in their own ways. From organic restaurants to environmental consulting firms to engineers and architects, these organizations help bring that “eco-friendly” feel to the city every day.

Yesterday, I ordered my Tzoa – a new, wearable device that measures air pollution as I go about my day. I’m really excited, even though I have to wait a yearto get it.

A Tzoa is a wearable device that measures air pollution.

“What’s that?” you say. “That doesn’t sound cool at all! That’s no Apple Watch, no Surface Pro, no Facebook app.” Surely, I have lost my mind. Or not.

Actually, I’d love for you to join me in supporting Tzoa’s Indiegogo campaign that kicked off yesterday. And no, I am not being paid to say that.

Here’s why I signed up:

A Tzoa creates and shares clean air data that is currently unavailable. The Tzoa accurately senses air pollution and shares that information with everyone. The data from everyone who wears a Tzoa gets uploaded to the cloud, and crunched into things like maps, recommendations for where to avoid the pollen, and where the least polluted bike route is. The data will be available on your smartphone. As a data geek, it’s like seeing a whole new sandbox created. Happiness!

It’s easy. As a veteran Fitbit One wearer, I know that wearing the Tzoa will be no big deal. As a matter of fact, I expect it may be a conversation starter. “Gee, what’s that shiny, sleek thing clipped to your arm/jacket/purse strap?” they’ll ask.

I really want to know. When I started my business, I was happy (and, if I’m honest, a little smug) to work in a home office. Then, I learned that indoor air can be more polluted than outdoor air! I am genuinely interested to find out what the Tzoa will tell me, and adjust my work environment if necessary.

I support businesses like Tzoa that are actively reinventing our economy and our lives with regards to climate and the environment. Through Indiegogo, you can chip in as little as $5 to make this product come to market.

Tzoa lets me be part of the action. The Tzoa is small enough, and accurate enough to create whole new sets of air pollution data. Everyone from government agencies to fellow citizens can use it. I’ve long liked the idea of being a “citizen scientist,” and Tzoa lets me be one!

Wouldn’t YOU like to know how clean the air around you is – both indoors and out? I would. And to feel the satisfaction of sharing that data – effortlessly – with people around the world?

The Patel College is one of the best sustainability schools you’ve never heard of. And the Straz Center, which has graced Tampa’s waterfront since 1987, will definitely benefit from their expertise in energy efficiency, water conservation, and waste minimization.

So today, I’m pointing you to the source – Janet Harrison Hall – and saying, “What she said…” Enjoy!

I’ll be joining the “We Have the Solutions” group, which includes “clean and green businesses.” Both the number of organizations participating – now over 1400 – and their sheer diversity is staggering. From native Americans to gray-haired grannies, from scientists to nurses, the list of partners is mind-boggling. My thanks to the organizers of the march for laying it out so clearly.

It looks like the weather is going to cooperate. 🙂 Where will you be on Sunday?

Research shows that sustainable business initiatives create more engaged (happier) employees, which lead to more profitable companies. Specifically:

Gallup research shows that companies with more engaged employees are more profitable.

Research from Harvard Business School shows that “sustainability initiatives are highly appealing to employees.” At Caesar’s Entertainment, for example, “customer loyalty and satisfaction – their overall experience and willingness to return to one of its hotels or casinos– is directly linked to employees’ level of participation in sustainable activities at work.”

But how?

Building a Culture for Sustainability profiles 9 companies.

Companies often struggle with the “how.” How do you build a culture for sustainability in your particular company? Jeana Wirtenberg’s new book, “Building a Culture for Sustainability,” helps answer that question.

She spent 2 years profiling 9 companies in depth about their sustainability programs and practices. These are not “the usual suspects” like Whole Foods or Patagonia. These companies are big guys who have been around, in some cases, for over 100 years. They want to become more sustainable, but have a lot of history and baggage to deal with.

Culture is key

The list below captures just 1 program or practice from each company. It doesn’t do justice to the full book, but it may persuade you to take a peek. If your business is in one of the industries covered, read that chapter. Better yet, pick a company in an industry different from yours. It’s an easy way to get a fresh perspective for your own sustainability journey.

Alcatel Lucent is a telecom company built on the proud history of Bell Labs. They embrace a “triple bottom line” approach to business. To reach their sustainability goals, they organized “Green Touch” – a consortium of telecom companies whose goal is to make the global network “1000 times more energy-efficient by 2015.” To do that, companies share data that used to be proprietary. Cross-company collaboration is essential to get us where we need to go, and it’s a big culture change for many.

Alcoa mines and manufactures aluminum – the “infinitely recyclable metal.” Alcoa has a “measurement culture.” Their A3 process – “assess, aspire, act” – is used to measure all kinds programs, not just sustainability ones. As Laurie Roy, HR director said, ” If you’re not measuring it, how do you know you are making progress?” Setting science-based goals, and measuring progress towards them is a key element of a sustainable culture.

BASF is a company that believes “chemistry is what enables the transition to a sustainable society.” For example, they developed Green Sense concrete mixtures, which save water, energy and CO2 emissions compared to conventional concrete. This material is used, among other places, in the Freedom Tower in New York City. Sustainability is integral to their business – not bolted on to the side.

Bureau Veritas is a world leader in testing, inspection and certification in over 140 countries. Their work with clients inspires them to reduce their own environmental footprint through energy, water and energy conservation programs. In addition, safety is ” not a priority, but an absolute.” That means 100% of employees receive ongoing training and communication about safety issues. From working safely at heights to safe driving, the focus is on prevention.

Church & Dwight owns Arm & Hammer (the baking soda people) and a variety of other brands. They’ve been using 100% recycled board in their baking soda boxes for more than 100 years. They also offer full ingredient disclosure on many of their consumer products – a kind of transparency that truly sustainable companies will embrace.

Ingersoll Rand has been in business for over 140 years. It’s a family of brands including Schlage and Trane. They’ve had great success building a sustainable culture using Green Teams. The number of teams doubled from 25 in 2010 to 52 in 2011 and doubled again to 110 in 2012. Each team focuses on improving their own facility’s environmental performance and on educating colleagues on “triple bottom line” issues. Locations with Green Teams have higher employee engagement scores than locations without Green Teams. ‘Nuf said.

Pfizer is aglobal health care company. Their Global Health Fellows program places employees in 3 to 6 month stints abroad. This donation of people-expertise to countries with little to no health infrastructure builds trust in international communities. The Fellows get first-hand knowledge of areas where Pfizer can tweak its business model to better serve local people. And Pfizer builds employee engagement by offering this very popular program, where numbers of applicants far outstrip the number of slots.

Sanofi is another health care giant. When you “put the patient first,” it’s a short step to seeing how sustainability supports that goal. Sanofi estimates that “13 million deaths can be prevented each year by safeguarding our environment.” Their CSR Ambassador Program enables employees from any department to volunteer for this role. Ambassadors learn about sustainability from in-house experts, and share that knowledge with colleagues. At Sanofi, this peer-to-peer approach is taking off.

Wyndham Worldwide – This global hospitality company has a program called “Caught Green Handed.” It’s a recognition program that started in one business unit and spread to all the rest. Employees receive a certificate with their name and a description of their green contribution. This kind of program energizes employees and helps get the word out to others.

A treasure trove of examples

There are many ways to build a culture of sustainability. If you want your business to perform well into the future, sustainability is your path to superior results.

Building a sustainable culture is not about annual events and lip service. It’s about tapping into the power of all your people to re-imagine the core of your business in sustainable ways. That’s an exciting mission for people at all levels.

So if your company is struggling with the “how,” grab a copy of Ms. Wirtenberg’s book. It offers detailed examples of what companies are doing. It is also frank about the challenges they’ve faced. These companies don’t have some secret sauce that makes the transition to green easy. But you can learn from the road they’ve already traveled, and build a sustainable culture that suits your organization.

The Sustainable Business Coalition of Tampa Bay and the University of Tampa celebrated 7 winners of the 2014 Sustainable Business Awards. I had signed up to clap for them on June 13, 2014.

The Sustainable Business Coalition celebrated 7 winners in 2014.

Alas, the Universe had other plans. I drove into one of those pounding, wind-driven thunderstorms that Tampa is famous for.

As I approached the venue, parking spots were non-existent. People I might have asked for directions were wisely indoors, and my navigation device suddenly beeped “Satellite Connection Lost.”

I realized I was lost too. Rather than continue wandering in the downpour, I drove back to work.

And the winners are…

But I still want to celebrate the winners. The award recognizes each business for “outstanding sustainable business practices and their commitments to people, planet and profit.” Here’s the list:

Elutions Inc. – which offers clients energy management solutions for buildings. Given that buildings account for about 40% of greenhouse gas emissions, products that help buildings use less energy make a huge difference.

Triad Cleaning Solutions – This company offers green cleaning products and services that improve indoor air quality for clients. And for commercial clients, using such products enables them to apply for LEED certification.

Bayshore Solutions – This web design, web development and digital marketing solutions company is a repeat winner. It’s good to see businesses become greener each year!

The Refinery – This farm-to-table restaurant does a fantastic job. (I’ve eaten there.) According to their website, “we set the bar high when it comes to what we put on the plate. If it wasn’t grown in Florida or produced using ethically sound methods, you probably won’t find it here.” ‘Nuf said.

Advanced Healthcare Partners. This is a health management and consulting company. I don’t have more information as of this writing, but am curious to know more.

Suncoast Food Alliance – Tampa has a growing “farm-to-table” movement. This company helps put farmers together with chefs, so that their fresh produce, eggs or meat get to the restaurants at the peak of flavor.

Landmarc Contracting -This construction and renovation firm is a certified Lead-Safe business. What’s that mean? According to the EPA, “Home repairs that create even a small amount of lead dust are enough to poison your child and put your family at risk. If you live in a home or apartment that was built before 1978 and are planning a renovation or repair project, make sure you renovate right with a Lead-Safe Certified contractor.” Like Landmarc.

Had I been able to attend, I would have said, “Congratulations” and “Thank You” and “Please keep up the good work” to each of the winners. So I’ll say it here.

And kudos to the Sustainable Business Coalition of Tampa and the University of Tampa for hosting this event. Until next year!